Essay on The Role of Deception in Hamlet - 1226 Words

The Role of Deception in Hamlet In the play Hamlet, deception is a major factor in the cause of the deaths of all those who die in the play, including Hamlet himself. The following paragraphs will outline the deception involved in the deaths of various characters including: Polonius, Gertrude, Laertes, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Old Hamlet; as well as the downfall of the antagonist and protagonist: Claudius and Hamlet themselves. Dishonesty is a major factor in the deaths of many characters. Ill silence me even here. Pray you be round with him. (III, iv, 4-5), is what Polonius says before hiding behind the arras in Gertrudes bedroom, and eavesdropping on Hamlets conversation with his mother. Much to†¦show more content†¦Old Hamlet, as well, was murdered by being stabbed in the back, by his very own brother Claudius. These are just the deaths of minor characters in the play, those who do not play a large role. The death of Claudius was also a result of deceit, mainly orchestrated by Hamlet. Here as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd someer I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on), (I, v, 169-172) is what Hamlet says to Horatio and Marcellus after he talks to the ghost of Old Hamlet. Hamlet is telling them not to mention that he is just pretending to be mad to anybody, which hints that Hamlet does have a plan to put on an antic disposition to fool Claudius and the courtiers. Later on in the play, Hamlet asks the traveling player to put on a show of the play The Murder of Gonzago, which is quite similar to the current situation with Claudius and Old Hamlet. Hamlet says, Well hat to-morrow night. You could for a need study a / speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which I would set down and / insert int, could you not? (II, ii, 506-508), when he asks the players if he could add a speech into their performance. This speech makes the plot virtually parallel to the occurrences between Claudius and Hamlet, and Hamlet will see Claudius reaction to the play in order to determine his guilt. ClaudiusShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Deception In Hamlet1338 Words   |  6 PagesDeception is defi ned as the act of deceiving someone. Deception occurs when there is a need to conceal the truth and also expose the truth. The play Hamlet written by Shakespeare is built around the central theme of deceit. Deceit is used to cover past mistakes that might have once impacted the characters greatly or to conceal an important secret. Every character indulges in some form of deceit whether it be big or small. 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So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear-- Act 1:Scene 5 Read MoreHamlets Women Essay690 Words   |  3 PagesShakespeares Hamlet, Hamlet spews extremely harsh words against his mother Gertrude and his love, Ophelia. Some people may claim that these venomous statements mean that he is misogynistic, but, in fact, Hamlets anger towards Gertrude and Ophelia stems not from their sex but from the ir betrayal. Throughout the play, Hamlet viciously attacks more than just the women; he has contempt for every person that betrays him and his father. After he recognizes the magnitude of Claudius deceptions, Hamlet describesRead More Reality, Illusion, Appearance, and Deception in Shakespeares Hamlet1279 Words   |  6 PagesReality, Illusion, Appearance, and Deception in Shakespeares Hamlet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As appearances play an important role in todays society, so they also play an important role in William Shakespeares play Hamlet. From the first scene to the last, Shakespeare elaborates on the theme of appearance versus reality through plot and character.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The plays plot is full of incidents and events that are not what they appear to be. One such incident is Ophelias ambiguous death. When,